Reid is projected as a second-round pick. What happens with Mathieu, who has first-round talent, is anybody’s guess after drug problems got him sent packing from LSU in August 2012 and resulted in him sitting out last season.

“Eric’s a great guy, great father to his daughter,” Claiborne told ESPN Radio on Thursday, per DallasCowboys.com. “He loves to play the game of football, very smart and intelligent.”

Claiborne called the 5-foot-9, 178-pound Mathieu “phenomenal.”

“He’s a good guy on and off the field, if you ask me,” Claiborne said. “I’ve seen this guy. He has a big heart. On the field, he’s just one of those guys that makes plays. I don’t care how big you say he has to be or how tall you say he has to be.”

Cowboys wide receive Dez Bryant also endorsed Mathieu, taking to Twitter to write, “A lot of great players in this draft but Mathieu is the best player in the draft. You can say whatever you want about him. #gamechanger.”